Melling Performance, a Family-Owned Michigan Business, Celebrates 80 Years in 2026 – Joins Sick The Magazine for Multiple Events, Including Sick Michigan Miles!
When asked about automotive history, a common answer of where to look is Michigan, a place where numerous automotive assembly plants were built, and where the big three (Ford, GM, and Mopar) still have operations. Millions of automobiles have come out of Michigan, by companies still in business, as well as those that have shuttered their doors.
The automotive aftermarket and performance industry is also strong in Michigan, with one business, Melling Engine Parts and Melling Performance Parts, celebrating eighty years since they were founded in 1946.
Sick Michigan Miles presented by Driven Racing Oil is HERE - August 17-23, 2026! Join us for a week in Michigan, combing drag racing at four tracks, and street cruising! Spectator tickets are available in advance or at the gate; CLICK HERE for details on Sick Michigan Miles!
You might know Melling for their oil pumps, and that is what got them started. Specifically, they started with an oil pump for the 1937 Chevrolet 6 cylinder engine, but to a new level of standards that the market had not seen at that time.
Within six years, Melling had expanded their offerings to camshafts, tappets, and oil pump drive gears for the 1932 to 1952 Ford 8 cylinder engines, to complement their new first high volume oil pump.
Now, a little over eight decades since they got their start, Melling has expanded to operate six divisions, and manufacture the following products: oil pumps, camshafts and valve train, cylinder sleeves, water pumps, expansion plugs, and timing components.
“We’re fourth generation, privately owned, American manufacturer based in Jackson, Michigan,” said Matt Melling. “Being an aftermarket and performance-based company, the Sick Michigan Miles event, you can’t ask for anything better to be tied into. These are our core customers.”
That experience brought them back for the full 2026 season with Sick The Magazine, and Melling has made a presence for multiple Sick The Mag events. Make sure you look for them on vendor row!
Melling is one of Sick The Mag’s sponsors that will join us at Sick Michigan Milespresented by Driven Racing Oil, August 17th through the 23rd! Day Zero, the 17th, starts the adventure at Mid Michigan Motorplex, with tech for all competitors, plus test and tune in the afternoon.
CLICK FOR MORE DETAILS on Sick Michigan Miles, and grab discounted advance spectator tickets!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Melling.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com